Engineering Commons^™

Visualising The Complex Features Of Source Code, Ivan Bacher

Doctoral

Software development is a complex undertaking composed of several activities that include reading, writing, and modifying source code. Indeed, previous studies have shown that the majority of the effort invested in software development is dedicated to understanding code. This includes understanding the static structure, dynamic behaviour, and evolution of the code. Given these particular characteristics, as well as the high complexity of source code, it is reasonable to consider how visualisation can facilitate source code understanding. This work proposes to extend existing software development tools with visualisations that can be used to encode the various complex features within a source …

Optimization Of Processing Parameters Of Nanocomposite Film For Fresh Sliced Okra Packaging, Adeshina Fadeyibi Phd, Zinash Delebo Osunde Phd, Professor, Mohammed Gana Yisa Professor

Journal of Applied Packaging Research

Nanocomposite film can be regarded as an active packaging material which is capable of curtailing microbial growth and keeping food for an extended life. In this research, the optimum processing parameters of cassava starch-zinc nanocomposite film was determined for packaging fresh-sliced okra. Samples of the films, with thickness ranging between 15– 17µm, were developed from the blends of 24g of cassava starch, 0–2 % zinc nanoparticles (NP) and 45–55 % glycerol in 600 ml distilled water. The ideal film was determined by optimizing the film processing parameters using Box-Behnken Design in Surface Response Methodology. It was subsequently used to package …

Usu Celebrates National Engineers Week | College Of Engineering, Utah State University

College of Engineering News

Utah State University’s College of Engineering is joining universities and engineering firms around the country in celebrating the 2019 National Engineers Week.

Combined Report: Aviation Weather Knowledge Assessment & General Aviation (Ga) Pilots’ Interpretation Of Weather Products, Beth Blickensderfer, John Lanicci, Thomas A. Guinn, Robert Thomas, Jennifer E. Thropp, Jayde King, Yolanda Ortiz, Jessica Cruit, Nicholas Defilippis, Krijn Berendschot, Jacqueline Mcsorley, John Kleber

General Aviation Weather Display Interpretation

Prior research has indicated that general aviation (GA) pilots may lack adequate knowledge of aviation weather concepts and skill at interpreting aviation weather displays. Therefore, the purpose of the current project was to develop and validate a comprehensive set of aviation weather knowledge and interpretation multiple-choice questions, and in turn, to use the questions to assess pilot understanding of aviation weather concepts and displays. An interdisciplinary research team that included two meteorologists, one Gold Seal Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI), a human factors psychologist, and several human factors graduate students performed this research.

Potential Economic Impacts Of Allocating More Land For Bioenergy Biomass Production In Virginia, Thomas O. Ochuodho, Janaki R. R. Alavalapati, Pankaj Lal, Domena A. Agyeman, Bernabas Wolde, Pralhad Burli

Forestry and Natural Resources Faculty Publications

The growing attention to renewable energy and rural development has created greater demand for production of biomass feedstock for bioenergy. However, forest growth rates and the amount of land in most existing forests may not be sufficient to sustainably supply the forest biomass required to support existing forest products industries and the expanding bioenergy industry. Additionally, concerns about agricultural land use competition have dampened expansion of biomass production on agricultural land base. One of the ways to meet the growing forest biomass feedstock demand for bioenergy production is by allocating currently marginal non-forested land for growing bioenergy feedstocks. In Virginia, …

Law School News: Roger Williams University Announces 11th President 02-13-2019, Ed Fitzpatrick

Life of the Law School (1993- )

No abstract provided.

Developable Mechanisms On Developable Surfaces, Todd G. Nelson, Trent K. Zimmerman, Robert J. Lang, Spencer P. Magleby, Larry L. Howell

Faculty Publications

The trend toward smaller mechanism footprints and volumes, while maintaining the ability to perform complex tasks, presents the opportunity for exploration of hypercompact mechanical systems integrated with curved surfaces. Developable surfaces are shapes that a flat sheet can take without tearing or stretching, and they represent a wide range of manufactured surfaces. This work introduces “developable mechanisms” as devices that emerge from or conform to developable surfaces. They are made possible by aligning hinge axes with developable surface ruling lines to enable mobility. Because rigid-link motion depends on the relative orientation of hinge axes and not link geometry, links can …

Design And Analysis Of Long-Stroke Planar Switched Reluctance Motor For Positioning Applications, Su-Dan Huang, Guang-Zhong Cao, Yeping Peng, Chao Wu, Deliang Liang, Jiangbiao He

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper presents the design, control, and experimental performance evaluation of a long-stroke planar switched reluctance motor (PSRM) for positioning applications. Based on comprehensive consideration of the electromagnetic and mechanical characteristics of the PSRM, a motor design is first developed to reduce the force ripple and deformation. A control scheme with LuGre friction compensation is then proposed to improve the positioning accuracy of the PSRM. Furthermore, this control scheme is proven to ensure the stable motion of the PSRM system. Additionally, the response speed and steady-state error of the PSRM system with this control scheme are theoretically analyzed. Finally, the …

Aircraft-Runway Total Energy Measurement, Monitoring, Managing, Safety, And Control System And Method, Nihad E. Daidzic,

Aviation Department Publications

United States Patent, Patent Number US 10,202,204 B1, Date of Patent February 12, 2019.

A total runway safety system (TRSS) and method measures, monitors, manages, and informs flight crew on the progress of takeoffs and landings and of any hazardous runway conditions. In some embodiments, the TRSS measures, monitors, and informs flight crew of longitudinal and lateral runway tracks thus preventing overruns and veer-offs during takeoffs and landings. In some embodiments, backscatter of infrared laser beams emitted by the aircraft is used to evaluate groundspeed and the reflectivity of the runway surface to make estimates of the surface conditions, rough­ness …

Solar Thermoelectricity Via Advanced Latent Heat Storage, Michele L. Olsen, Eric S. Toberer, David S. Ginley, Philip A. Parilla, Emily L. Warren, Aaron D. Martinez, Jonathan E. Rea, Corey Lee Hardin, Christopher J. Oshman, Nathan P. Siegel

Other Faculty Research and Publications

An aspect of the present disclosure is a system that includes a thermal valve having a first position and a second position, a heat transfer fluid, and an energy converter where, when in the first position, the thermal valve prevents the transfer of heat from the heat transfer fluid to the energy converter, and when in the second position, the thermal valve allows the transfer of heat from the heat transfer fluid to the energy converter, such that at least a portion of the heat transferred is converted to electricity by the energy converter.

Addressing Challenges For Mapping Irrigated Fields In Subhumid Temperate Regions By Integrating Remote Sensing And Hydroclimatic Data, Tianfang Xu, Jillian M. Deines, Anthony D. Kendall, Bruno Basso, David W. Hyndman

Publications

High-resolution mapping of irrigated fields is needed to better estimate water and nutrient fluxes in the landscape, food production, and local to regional climate. However, this remains a challenge in humid to subhumid regions, where irrigation has been expanding into what was largely rainfed agriculture due to trends in climate, crop prices, technologies and practices. One such region is southwestern Michigan, USA, where groundwater is the main source of irrigation water for row crops (primarily corn and soybeans). Remote sensing of irrigated areas can be difficult in these regions as rainfed areas have similar characteristics. We present methods to address …

Design Thinking As A Framework For Teaching Packaging Innovation, Javier De La Fuente, Irene Carbonell, Mary Laporte

Journal of Applied Packaging Research

Students in scientific/technical-oriented disciplines struggle with achieving good levels of innovation when exposed to design problems. Research indicates the need for implementing alternative pedagogical approaches in technical curricula that enhance students’ creative skills. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the implementation of a cross-disciplinary pedagogical approach with a focus on teaching innovation in the field of packaging engineering at a university in the United States. A Design Thinking Project-Based Learning (DTPBL) approach was used to improve the levels of innovation in student work. Its outcomes were compared with those of a Traditional Project-Based Learning (TPBL) approach. The implementation …

Details On O-Sbl(Mcmc): A Compressive Sensing Algorithm For Sparse Signal Recovery For The Smv/Mmv Problem Using Sparse Bayesian Learning And Markov Chain Monte Carlo Inference, Mohammad Shekaramiz, Todd K. Moon, Jacob H. Gunther

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

This report provides details on O-SBL(MCMC) algorithm for the recovery of jointly-sparse signals for the multiple measurement vector (MMV) problem. For the MMVs with this structure, the solution matrix, which is a collection of sparse vectors, is expected to exhibit joint sparsity across the columns. The notion of joint sparsity here means that the columns of the solution matrix share common supports. This algorithm employs a sparse Bayesian learning (SBL) model to encourage the joint sparsity structure across the columns of the solution. While the proposed algorithm is constructed for the MMV problems, it can also be applied to the …

A Continental Water Model For All | College Of Engineering, Utah State University

College of Engineering News

Understanding the movement and availability of water locally and across the country is of paramount importance to both economic productivity and the human health of the nation.

College Of Engineering News, Georgia Southern University

College of Engineering & Computing: News & Publications (2010-2023)

• Georgia SOuthern Engineering programs welcomed 100+ QUEST students

Metabolomics Of Sorghum Roots During Nitrogen Stress Reveals Compromised Metabolic Capacity For Salicylic Acid Biosynthesis, Amy M. Sheflin, Dawn Chiniquy, Chaohui Yuan, Emily Goren, Indrajit Kumar, Max Braud, Thomas Brutnell, Andrea L. Eveland, Susannah Tringe, Peng Liu, Stephen Kresovich, Ellen Marsh, Daniel P. Schachtman, Jessica E. Prenni

Nebraska Center for Biotechnology: Faculty and Staff Publications

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) is the fifth most productive cereal crop worldwide with some hybrids having high biomass yield traits making it promising for sustainable, economical biofuel production. To maximize biofuel feedstock yields, a more complete understanding of metabolic responses to low nitrogen (N) will be useful for incorporation in crop improvement efforts. In this study, 10 diverse sorghum entries (including inbreds and hybrids) were field-grown under low and full N conditions and roots were sampled at two time points for metabolomics and 16S amplicon sequencing. Roots of plants grown under low N showed altered metabolic profiles at …

A Data Model To Manage Data For Water Resources Systems Modeling, Adel M. Abdallah, David E. Rosenberg

Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

Current practices to identify, organize, analyze, and serve data to water resources systems models are typically model and dataset-specific. Data are stored in different formats, described with different vocabularies, and require manual, model-specific, and time-intensive manipulations to find, organize, compare, and then serve to models. This paper presents the Water Management Data Model (WaMDaM) implemented in a relational database. WaMDaM uses contextual metadata, controlled vocabularies, and supporting software tools to organize and store water management data from multiple sources and models and allow users to more easily interact with its database. Five use cases use thirteen datasets and models focused …

Electrical Properties And Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Effectiveness Of Interlayered Systems Composed By Carbon Nanotube Filled Carbon Nanofiber Mats And Polymer Composites, Claudia A. Ramirez-Herrera, Homero Gonzalez, Felipe De La Torre, Laura Benitez, Jose G. Cabanas-Moreno, Karen Lozano

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

The demand for multifunctional requirements in aerospace, military, automobile, sports, and energy applications has encouraged the investigation of new composite materials. This study focuses on the development of multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) filled polypropylene composites and carbon nanofiber composite mats. The developed systems were then used to prepare interlayered composites that exhibited improved electrical conductivity and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding efficiency. MWCNT-carbon nanofiber composite mats were developed by centrifugally spinning mixtures of MWCNT suspended in aqueous poly(vinyl alcohol) solutions. The developed nanofibers were then dehydrated under sulfuric acid vapors and then heat treated. Interlayered samples were fabricated using a nanoreinforced …

The Nature Of Stalls: Not All Stalls Are Created Equal, Nihad E. Daidzic

Aviation Department Publications

FAA Safety Seminar (GL1588593F) held at Modern Avionics/Air Trek North, Eden Prairie, MN at 9:00 CST on Saturday, February 9, 2019.

Design And Analysis Of Novel Actuation Mechanism With Controllable Stiffness, Erivelton Gualter Dos Santos, Hanz Richter

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Actuators intended for human–machine interaction systems are usually designed to be mechanically compliant. Conventional actuators are not suitable for this purpose due to typically high stiffness. Advanced powered prosthetic and orthotic devices can vary their stiffness during a motion cycle and are power-efficient. This paper proposes a novel actuator design that modulates stiffness by means of a flexible beam. A motorized drive system varies the active length of the cantilever beam, thus achieving stiffness modulation. New large deflection formulation for cantilever beams with rolling contact constraints is used to determine the moment produced by the actuator. To validate the proposed …

The Effect Of Fine Material Amount On Optimum Water Content Of Roller Compacted Concrete, Kubilay Akçaözoğlu, Bedrettin Menemencioğlu

International Journal of Business and Technology

In this study the effect of fine material amount on the optimum water content of roller compacted concrete (RCC) was investigated. The fine aggregate was replaced with calcite which maximum particle size was 63 μ, in amount of 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 10% and 14% by weight of total aggregate. Six different mixtures were prepared in the study. The optimum water contents of the mixtures were determined by using modified proctor test. Optimum water content, maximum dry unit weight and maximum fresh unit weight of produced specimens were measured. Optimum water content of specimens decreased depending on increasing fine aggregate …

The Effect Of Particles Pm10 And Pm2.5 In Dust Emission Of Urban Infrastructure From Thermal Power Plant Technology Kosovo, Afrim Syla

International Journal of Business and Technology

Airborne particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters less than 10 microns (referred to as PM10) is one of the six criteria pollutants used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as indicator of air quality. During the last decade, the health effects of urban aerosols have become a major concern for the society.

The main environmental problems in Kosovo include all issues related to water supply and sanitation system, air quality, solid waste management and urban infrastructure. The major problem remains high pollutions, energy losses and low collection efficiency. The awareness of environmental issues among the general public is poor. Air quality …

Using Of Proper Pavement Material For The Intersections With Slow-Moving Traffic, Bekim Selimi

International Journal of Business and Technology

Use of proper pavement material for some of intersections need special attention by road designers. At Camp Bondsteel-Kosovo on 2002 were built four road intersections using the concrete as pavement material. Heavy and slow-moving trucks that are turning or accelerating exposed these intersections to some of the highest stress level. After some years this intresections start deteriorating on their surface due to friction. The concrete pavements did not survive this period of usage and after eight years were removed and replaced with asphalt pavements. After more than seven years, the asphalt has shown minor distress but is still in good …

The Effect Of Elevated Temperature On The Lightweight Concrete Containing Waste Pet Aggregate, Semiha Akçaözoğlu

International Journal of Business and Technology

In this study, the effect of waste PET as lightweight aggregate (WPLA) replacement with conventional aggregate on the some physical and mechanical properties and residual compressive strength of concrete was investigated. For this purpose, five different mixtures were prepared (the reference mixture and four WPLA mixtures including 30%, 40%, 50% and 60% waste PET aggregate by volume). The fresh and dry unit weights, compressive strengths, flexural-tensile strengths, water absorption and porosity ratios of the mixtures were measured. In addition the specimens exposed to elevated temperatures at 150, 300 and 450 °C and the residual compressive strengths were measured. Test results …

Negative Impacts (Sbs) In Residential Buildings Case Studies From Kosovo, Muhamet Ahmeti, Mimoza Sylejmani

International Journal of Business and Technology

This paper presents the negative impacts on residential buildings in Kosovo, - as well as the main factors of the occurrence of sick building syndrome (SBS) in residential buildings in the case of Kosovo. It also examines the impact of different materials on this phenomenon and how many constructions in Kosovo are protected from this phenomenon.

For the assessment of the impact of materials on health and the environment, it is necessary to consider all the phases. Starting from the phase of construction, selection of materials, application from the beginning of the use of the building, including all the materials …

Reducing The Porosity And Sealing Cracks By Using Crystalline Admixture In Conventional Concrete, Visar Krelani, Liberato Ferrara

International Journal of Business and Technology

There is a continuous increase of quality on civil engineering materials in developed countries and parallel increase of need for new constructions in developing countries. Professional community should propose solutions for the durability that can resist in different severe environments. The most important factor that can affect concrete durability is represented by the pore distribution. Transport properties can take place through the porous network inside the cementitious composites and the aggregates interface, permitting the ingress of aggressive agents damaging concrete function intrinsically as a material and the wellfunctioning of the entire structure. The use of a crystalline admixture during the …

Seismic Actions Induced By Cladding Panels On Precast Concrete Frame Structures, Bruno Dal Lago, Francesco Foti, Luca Martinelli

International Journal of Business and Technology

The strong earthquakes occurred in Southern Europe in the last decade pointed out a poor seismic performance of the connection system of the cladding of precast industrial structures. The cladding of these buildings usually consists of sandwich concrete panels of remarkable mass, connected to the frame structure with mechanical devices. The estimation of the out-of-plane seismic action on these connections is a key step for their correct proportioning. However, the formulation currently provided in the Eurocode 8 for the estimation of the seismic action on non-structural elements was calibrated with different objectives. Furthermore, given there is no in-plane structure-panel interaction, …

State Feedback Of Complex Systems Using Fuzzy Cognitive Maps, Vassiliki Mpelogianni, Ioannis Arvanitakis, Peter P. Groumpos

International Journal of Business and Technology

Complex systems have become a research area with increasing interest over the last years. The emergence of new technologies, the increase in computational power with reduced resources and cost, the integration of the physical world with computer based systems has created the possibility of significantly improving the quality of life of humans. While a significant degree of automation within these systems exists and has been provided in the past decade with examples of the smart homes and energy efficient buildings, a paradigm shift towards autonomy has been noted. The need for autonomy requires the extraction of a model; while a …

Maturity Level Of Kosovo Manufacturing Industry With Regard To Industry 4.0, Fatmir Azemi, Edmond Hajrizi, Bekim Maloku

International Journal of Business and Technology

In this paper the concept of Maturity Level of Kosovo Industry will be presented according to the Industry 4.0. Digitalization of factory has impact the entire business environment and lead to Smart Enterprises. To create a model of Smart Factory, first we have analyzed the existing situation of Kosovo Manufacturing Industry with regard to revolution of Industry. In this paper we will describe the results of a recent research at the Kosovo manufacturing companies and are included metalworking and furniture industry, where is developed a Maturity Level for Kosovo Industry. To describe the Maturity Level of Kosovo Industry we have …

Applying A Revised Approach Of Fuzzy Cognitive Maps On A Hybrid Electrical Energy System, Ekavi Antoniou, Eleni S. Vergini, Peter P. Groumpos

International Journal of Business and Technology

Complex systems modeling is a rapidly developing research field which incorporates various scientific sectors from bio medicine and energy to economic and social sciences. However, as the systems’ complexity increases pure mathematical modeling techniques prove to be a rather laborious task which demands wasting many resources and in many occasions, could not lead to the desired system response. This realization led researchers turn their attention into the field of computational intelligence; Neural Networks and Fuzzy Logic etc. In this way scientists were able to provide a model of a system which is strongly characterized by fuzziness and uncertainties. Fuzzy Cognitive …